Staff
Pastor
Pastor Marques Nelson was born in Greeley, Colorado, also growing up in Hoskins, Nebraska and Winona, Minnesota. For undergraduate pastoral studies, Marques attended Martin Luther College in New Ulm. For several years, he worked in Milwaukee as a job developer, helping people with disabilities and disadvantages find jobs in their communities. While in Milwaukee, he completed his graduate seminary studies at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary in Mequon, WI. This included a year of internship (vicar) at Lord of Life Lutheran Church in Thornton, Colorado.
After graduation from Seminary, Pastor Nelson served as pastor of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. During this time he enjoyed serving the members of Good Shepherd and working with them to develop plans for multi-site ministry. This included plans for a new mission in fast growing North Liberty, Iowa with components of campus ministry for the U of Iowa.
Pastor now serves both the Beacon and St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in North Mankato. He arrived in August 2018, just in time to begin the new school year here on campus.
Pastor Nelson and his wife, Corissa, both enjoy campus life. Corissa has previously really loved teaching as an adjunct architecture professor at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. They both love ideas, books, and learning. As a result, Pastor and Corissa collect new hobbies from hiking to bike riding, from exploring new communities with their kids, visiting coffee shops, and collecting various bluegrass instruments (now they just need to learn to play them). They also enjoy working together to develop digital content for ministry. Corissa currently works freelance with various aspects of design and illustration.
2023-24 RA
Noah Schleusener was born and raised in Tomah, WI. As the Beacon Resident Assistant, he lives in the apartment connected to the Beacon Ministry Center, and assists Pastor Nelson with campus ministry. Noah graduated from Hillsdale College with a degree in Classics and is a first year student at Bethany Theological Seminary. He enjoys reading, going for walks, and discussing theology and philosophy. He also likes to think of himself as something of a mac and cheese connoisseur. Feel free to say hi if you see him at the Beacon or even to knock on his door if you're craving some pasta or conversation.
Ministry Assistant
Skyler Hepler was raised in Cottage Grove, WI. He became a member of Abiding Shepherd Lutheran Church his freshman year of high school after being invited to go through confirmation with a friend. Growing up as a public school kid, youth group was Skyler’s main connection with other Christian teens.
After high school, Skyler attended UW-Madison in hopes of pursuing an engineering degree. While there, he was served by Campus Ministry at Wisconsin Lutheran Chapel. However, after just one semester, he dropped out of the university when he began feeling called to the ministry. After spending a year at his local technical college, Skyler transferred to Bethany Lutheran College to begin learning Biblical languages. At Bethany, Skyler was involved in many activities including Student Senate, Ultimate Frisbee, Science Club, Outdoors Club, and Choir. After graduating with a Biology Major in 2021, he married his Australian wife, Erin. Currently, Skyler is in his second year at Bethany Lutheran Theological Seminary alongside Caleb.
When he is not studying or working, Skyler and Erin enjoy spending time outdoors playing frisbee, looking for birds and other animals, hiking, and hanging around the campfire. They also appreciate new movie recommendations.
Skyler is typically hanging out at the Beacon weekday afternoons and would love to get to know you. Come say hi and feel free to ask him any questions about himself or his experience as a Christian at a public university.